A Forest Hill man is charged with attempted murder and arson after he told investigators he set his house on fire early Christmas morning, the Office of the State Fire Marshal reported.
A firefighter was injured in the incident, according to the Fire Marshal's Office, as he fell through a heavily-damaged staircase while fighting the blaze.
The firefighter was taken to a local hospital for a minor leg injury, according to the Harford County Volunteer Fire & EMS Association.
Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company firefighters responded to the incident, in the 2400 block of Edwards Manor Drive, at about 2:48 a.m. Thursday, according to according to a news release from the State Fire Marshal's Office.
Nicholas Lester, 32, was detained by the Harford County Sheriff's Office after he confessed to deputies that he set the fire, according to the release.
Lester waived his right to remain silent and was charged with first-degree and second-degree arson, three counts of first-degree attempted murder, four counts of reckless endangerment and on count each of first-degree and second-degree malicious burning, according to the release.
Lester is being held without bond at the Harford County Detention Center, according to online court records. With courts closed Friday, he will most likely have a bail review hearing in District Court Monday.
When the fire broke out, a basement apartment was occupied by two adults and a 2-year-old child, according to fire investigators. No other injuries were reported.
Fallston and Jarrettsville fire companies assisted Bel Air personnel, according to the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company.
The injured firefighter is with the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company, Senior Deputy State Fire Marshal Oliver Alkire said Friday. Alkire, who was the head investigator at the fire scene, did not have any information about his condition.
According to Alkire, Lester lives in the home with his mother, who was out-of-town visiting two other sons who are in the military.
At some point, Alkire said, Lester became agitated and as a result allegedly started the fire by pouring gasoline along the second floor and down the stairs to the first, where he used a lighter to ignite the gasoline.
Alkire said Lester told investigators he initially believed the home's smoke detectors would alert the occupants of the basement apartment and they would leave safely.
"When the smoke alarms went off and he [Lester] realized the tenants were still in there, he went outside and got a shovel and banged on their door and window and informed them of the fire," the investigator continued. "They got out safety but didn't really know what was happening or that the fire was intentionally set."
Alkire said the couple were alarmed at the fire. They left with their child in their car and went to a friend's home. They also called 911.
Alkire said when firefighters and Harford County Sheriff's Office deputies arrived, they found Lester sitting in a chair at the end of his driveway.
After Lester told the first arriving deputy how the fire allegedly started, Alkire said he was summoned to the scene and interviewed Lester before filing the multiple criminal charges.
"Upon interviewing him [Lester], he confessed," Alkire said.
The three counts of attempted first-degree murder relate to the family living in the basement, Alkire explained. The four counts of reckless endangerment relate to the family and to the injured firefighter, who Alkire said was injured trying to make sure the basement had been cleared of people or pets.
"We don't take these situations that endanger the lives of our firefighters lightly," Alkire said. "He [Lester] put that firefighter at great risk."